Electrical switch apparatus

ABSTRACT

Switch apparatus is provided which includes a switching device or the equivalent with a manually engageable portion having unique illuminating means. The described embodiment provides a stationary first section and a second section movable relative to the first section only upon a predetermined external force being applied thereto. The illuminating means comprises the stationary section including an electrically energizable light source and the movable section including a protective shield shrouding the light source. The shield is provided with a removable lens piece through which the light rays from the source pass when the latter is energized. The source is energized only upon alternate application of the predetermined external force on the second section.



1. An electrical switch comprising an insulated casing provided with an elongated cavity open at one end and an electrically energizable illuminating means disposed adjacent said cavity open end; a plurality of electrical contacts carried by said casing, said contacts having portions thereof exposed within said cavity and arranged in spaced relation, predetermined contacts being in continuous electrical connection with said illuminating means; and an insulated housing adjustably mounted on said casing, said housing including a first section disposed in shielding substantially encompassing relation with said illuminating means and an elongated second section extending from said first section and slidably mounted within said cavity for movement to selected positions therein, said second section carrying an elongated conductor effecting interconnection of predetermined contact inner portions only when said second section is disposed at one selected position whereby the electrical connection for said illuminating means is complete, said housing first section having a portion thereof through which light rays from said illuminating means will pass when the latter is energized.
 2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the portion of said housing first section through which light rays pass comprises a removable lens piece.
 3. The switch of claim 2 wherein said insulated casing is of composite construction and includes a first component having said elongated cavity formed therein and a second component mounted on said first component adjacent the open end of said cavity; said second component being provided with a bulb, and a socket for releasably accommodating said bulb, said bulb being accessible only when said lens piece is removed.
 4. The switch of claim 3 wherein said socket includes conducting fingers protruding from said housing second component and in resilient engagement with predetermined electrical contacts carried by said casing.
 5. The switch of claim 2 wherein said lens piece and said housing elongated second section are disposed at opposite ends of said housing first section.
 6. The switch of claim 5 wherein movement of said housing second section to any of said selected positions with respect to said cavity is effected only upon a predetermined external force being applied in one direction on said housing first section.
 7. The switch of claim 6 wherein said external force is applied to said lens piece in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing elongated second section.
 8. The switch of claim 2 wherein said lens piece is retained by friction on said housing first section.
 9. An illuminated pushbutton-type electrical switch comprising: a switch mechanism having a housing, electrical switch means within said housing including relatively movable electrically conductive parts for opening and closing electrical circuits, manually engageable actuating means extending into said housing and movable between an actuated and a deactuated position relative to said housing to control said movable parts, and conductive terminal means secured to said housing and extending therefrom, said terminal means being connected to selected respective ones of said relatively movable conductive parts within said housing, said conductive parts and terminal means defining normally open, normally closed and center contacts and terminals, illuminating means adjacent said switch mechanism including a light source, mounting means for said light source, and electrical contact means secured in said mounting means and engaging said light source, said contact means extending from said mounting means and shaped to engage predetermined ones of said conductive terminal means of said switch mechanism, said contact means of the illuminating means resiliently engaging selected ones of said terminals; and pushbutton means in operating engagement with the actuating means of said switch mechanism, said pushbutton means having a shell portion enclosing said light source, a mounting portion engaging said actuating means, and a diaphanous portion through which the light from said light source is visible.
 10. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 9 wherein said movable electrically conductive parts include normally open, normally closed and center contacts, said contact means of the illuminating means engaging said center contacts.
 11. An illuminated pushbutton type electrical switch comprising: a switch mechanism having a housing, electrical switch means within said housing including relatively movable electrically conductive parts for opening and closing electrical circuits, manually engageable actuating means extending into said housing and movable between an actuated and a deactuated position relative to said housing to control said movable parts, and conductive terminal means secured to said housing and extending therefrom, said terminal means being connected to selected respective ones of said conductive parts within said housing; illuminating means adjacent said switch mechanism including a light source, mounting means for said light source, and electrical contact means secured in said mounting means and engaging said light source, said contact means extending from said mounting means and shaped to engage predetermined ones of said terminal means of said switch mechanism; and pushbutton means in operating engagement with the actuating means of said switch mechanism, said pushbutton means having a shell portion enclosing said light source, said shell portion slideably mounted on said light source mounting means, a mounting portion engaging said actuating means, and a diaphanous portion through which the light from said light source is visible.
 12. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein said switch mechanism and said illuminating means are arranged in side-by-side relationship whereby said pushbutton encloses a portion of said actuating means and said light source in side-by-side relationship.
 13. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 including support means, said switch mechanism and said illuminating means being mounted in side-by-side relationship on said support means.
 14. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein resilient means iNterconnects said shell and said diaphanous portion whereby said diaphanous portion may be removed or interchanged.
 15. The illuminated pushbutton switch of claim 11 wherein said contact means resiliently engage said terminal means to complete a circuit therethrough for said light source. 